HMO APPEALS: State Senate To Examine Issue This Week

      The state Legislature this week "plans to consider the life-and-death decisions made by HMOs," the AP/Contra Costa Times reports. The Senate Judiciary Committee tomorrow will examine AB 2436, Assemblywoman Liz Figueroa's (D-Fremont) bill that would let managed care patients sue their HMOs for making bad medical decisions. The bill was passed by the Assembly in late May. The AP/Times reports that a "fierce debate looms" as discussion of the bill resumes. Patient rights groups support the bill as strongly as the managed care industry opposes it. If passed, the AP/Times reports, the measure "would likely face lawsuits over its validity" (Kerr, 7/20). Click here for past California Healthline coverage of the HMO liability issue.